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Buehler leads Dodgers past Rockies

October 2 2018 2:18 AM

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the National League (NL) West champions after a 5-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

Los Angeles took a two-run lead over the Rockies in the fourth inning and tallied two more one frame later. The Rockies rallied in the top of the ninth, but it was too little too late as the Dodgers held on in the NL West tiebreaker. They have now won the West in each of the last six seasons.

Colorado will travel to face the Chicago Cubs, who lost the NL Central tiebreaker to the Milwaukee Brewers, in the single-elimination National League wildcard game on Tuesday. Los Angeles are set to take on the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series (NLDS).

Walker Buehler delivers for the Dodgers

Walker Buehler came through for the Dodgers.

The 24-year-old right hander was brilliant for Los Angeles in game 163. He completely shut down the Rockies lineup, allowing just one hit in 6.2 scoreless innings. He threw 93 pitches while striking out three and walking three.

Colorado have made the playoffs four times since they entered MLB as an expansion team in 1993. All of those appearances, however, came as a wildcard as the franchise have never finished first in their division

The Rockies entered game 163 with a chance to change that, but they came up short. Colorado's bats never came alive against Buehler while Marquez allowed four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings on the mound.

The Rockies have had playoff success despite never winning their division. They advanced to the World Series as the National League wildcard team in 2007.